Hybrid ICN Proxy Switching via Transient UDP Fallback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hybrid Information-Centric Networking (hICN) proxies face delays in switching traffic from transient connections to hICN connections, causing latency issues in real-time applications, and existing solutions disrupt traffic flow or require network reconfiguration, which is not suitable for latency-sensitive applications.

Innovation Solution

A mechanism that dynamically establishes hICN connections using a transient User Datagram Protocol (UDP) fallback, allowing seamless conversion between push-based IP and pull-based hICN models without connectivity interruption, ensuring traffic is sent immediately to a proxy and upgraded to hICN upon full connectivity, using a unique identifier for tracking across connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hICN proxies wait for full hICN connectivity before switching traffic, then hICN connection stability is improved, but traffic latency increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehICN connection stabilityVSAvoidtraffic latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes a transient UDP connection in advance as a fallback mechanism before hICN connectivity is fully operational. This preliminary action ensures that traffic can flow immediately without waiting for complete hICN stack initialization, thereby reducing latency while maintaining the option to switch to stable hICN connectivity when ready.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a transient UDP connection as an intermediary mechanism that bridges the gap during the transition period before hICN connectivity is established. This intermediary allows traffic to flow through an alternative path, preventing latency issues while the primary hICN connection is being set up, and enables seamless switching when hICN becomes operational.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If traffic is immediately sent over transient UDP connection, then traffic flow continuity is improved, but connection reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic flow continuityVSAvoidconnection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic switching mechanism that adapts the connection type based on operational conditions. Initially, traffic flows over the transient UDP connection for immediate continuity, but the system dynamically switches to the more reliable hICN connection once it becomes operational, thus optimizing both continuity and reliability at different stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the connection parameter from transient UDP to stable hICN based on the operational state. This parameter change allows the system to start with a connection that prioritizes immediate traffic flow (UDP) and then transition to a connection that prioritizes reliability (hICN), effectively managing the trade-off between continuity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If hICN stack initialization is completed before traffic switching, then connection stability is improved, but setup time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidsetup time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary traffic forwarding over the transient UDP connection while the hICN stack is being initialized in the background. This preliminary action allows the system to avoid idle waiting time, as traffic can flow immediately via UDP while the more stable hICN connection is being prepared, thus reducing setup time without sacrificing eventual stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuous useful action by maintaining traffic flow through the transient UDP connection during the hICN initialization process. Instead of interrupting traffic flow to wait for hICN setup, the system keeps the useful action of data transmission continuous via the fallback mechanism, then transitions to hICN for enhanced stability once ready.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11818030B2Reliable switch from regular IP to hybrid-ICN pull-based communications for proxy applications

Publication Date: 2023.11.14 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Presented herein are a combination of techniques that will ensure that the traffic is sent to the proxy right from the first packet without any delay using transient transport, and upgraded to Hybrid Information-Centric Networking (hICN) immediately upon completion of the stack initialization and we have full connectivity. More specifically, a mechanism is provided to dynamically establish hICN connections to transport latency-sensitive traffic, due to a transient User Datagram Protocol (UDP) fallback. This allows a reliable conversion between the push-based IP model, and the pull-based hICN model with no connectivity interruption. This is useful to implement proxy functionalities exposing regular IP applications to hICN to leverage its benefits in terms of performance or seamless mobility.